soya, is contaminated with very high levels of glyphosate and aremuch higher than acceptable levels determined to be safe in children.39 The significance of these findings will be discussed below.
Remove the blinders to glyphosate-based harm
In a study by Mesnage, et al, rats administered 0.1 ppb of Roundup® showed signs of enhanced liver injury via several biologic samples as well as oxidative stress, demonstrating that ultra low doses of glyphosate-based herbicides caused fatty liver (NAFLD - nonalcoholic fatty liver disease).40
This issue has now surfaced as a major epidemic. In Americans, 1 in 3 adults are presently diagnosed with NAFLD.41
This disorder can further progress to more serious forms of liver disease and cirrhosis. Children are not faring better than adults in respect to NAFLD. The prevalence of NAFLD in the pediatric population is estimated between 3-12%, and found in a shocking percentage of 70-80% of children with obesity.42 Acknowledging the previously reported issues of obesity in African children, the obvious question is whether this type of problem is even being addressed or considered. With the high levels of glyphosate reported in the foods children consume, one can surmise that these children are overloaded with pesticides and their ability to detoxify may be significantly impaired. The reality exists that a significant number may have undiagnosed/unrecognized NAFLD with the potential for further advancement of liver disease. A further look at the detoxification capacity of children will follow in the next section.
Research continues to focus on genetics and “environmental factors” as causative agents in the epidemic of liver disease, some pointing the finger to high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as an etiology for the rise in NAFLD as well. Equally disturbing is that upon review of the literature, reporting or further discussion of the issue of the link between ultra low doses of Roundup causing NAFLD in either children and adults could not be found despite the research previously published by Mesnage and the American National Liver Foundation ringing the bell regarding the epidemic of NAFLD. Clearly, we must also address the derivatives of the components of HFCS as being potential causal factors: GMOs and their associated pesticides.
The second line of defense in clearing xenobiologics after the front-line defenders, the microbiome, is the liver, which has many housekeeping responsibilities in health maintenance. The impact of NAFLD and its sequelae of worsening liver disease could potentially impair detoxification. One of the ways detoxification occurs is via the cytochrome p450 pathway. The cytochrome p450 pathway as well as the paraoxonase1 (PON1) pathway play a major role in the metabolism and detoxication of OP insecticides and are involved in the metabolism of oxidized lipids as well. The role of OPs in children’s health such as neurodevelopment disorders is well-known.43
Children’s detoxification mechanisms are not well developed until several years after birth.44 The role of the PON1 plasma enzyme in the detoxification scheme is an undervalued variable. In a study from 195345, PON1 was shown to hydrolyze the toxic metabolites of OP insecticides.
Hence, the information regarding this enzyme has been available for decades. Studies have shown that the PON1 levels of newborns are one-third to one-fourth the levels of adults.46 These levels have an impact on OP exposures in small children which can effect developmental neurotoxicity.47